Sexualities and Dementia Workshop – Warragul (22.02.19)

Event Description

Sexual expression is a part of life no matter what age we are and therefore older people living with dementia also need to be considered. In an aged care context, this can be a confronting and challenging issue for service providers and health professionals.

Responses can be reactive rather than proactive, with many staff not knowing what to do. There are beliefs that older people are asexual, and that sexual needs and behaviour is only for those who are “cognitively intact”. There can also be a lack of regard for non-heterosexual people living with dementia.

There is no singular orthodox approach in responding to sexual behaviour in people living with dementia. However, we should empower them in their own decision-making process as much as possible. This workshop aims to increase awareness and understanding of sexuality among people living with dementia.

Event Presenter

Dr Cindy Jones

Dr. Cindy Jones is an Assistant Professor of Behavioural Sciences at Bond University and an Adjunct Research Fellow with the Menzies Health Institute Queensland. Her research work focuses social and behavioural science research relating to older people, particularly the alleviation of behavioural and psychological symptoms in people living with dementia. Her work examines the effectiveness of innovative health technology (e.g. telepresence and therapeutic/social robots) and psychosocial interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia and their family carers; and to enhance care provision by health professionals in aged care. One of her significant work relates to the improvement of knowledge, attitudes and care practices of health professionals towards the expression of sexuality by people living with dementia to enable the facilitation of a care environment that is supportive of the verbalisation and expression of sexual preference, need and desire by people living with dementia. This work is developed around the key areas of knowledge translation and workforce training and development. In 2013, Dr. Jones has developed the Sexualities & Dementia: An Online Education Resource for Health Professional, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing via the Dementia Training Australia. Dr Jones has since been the leading educator on sexualities and dementia in Australia (a neglected aspect of care for people with dementia).

Event Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Understand the importance of expression of sexuality for a person with dementia

Develop understanding of sexualities for people living with dementia and the challenges for health professionals and service providers

Increase awareness about the sexual risks to people with dementia

Enhance knowledge regarding the rights for persons with dementia to make decisions about sexualities, intimacy and physical relationships

Knowledge Translation Outcomes

Increase awareness and understanding of the intimate and sexual needs of person with dementia

Foster Agreement with principles of care which value persons with dementia and intimacy preferences

Enable adoption of knowledge into practice via practical tools and strategies in place

Professional Value

7 continuing development hours (CPD)

Event Registration

Please click on the link to register your attendance online via event arc. Please note once registered you will receive a confirmation/registration ticket. Please print and bring along to the event

Did you know…
Visit your DTA Profile at any time to access your active courses, see your pending enrolments, view your completed courses and download a Certificate. You can also manage your personal details and password.

Complete the requested fields e.g. Which of the following reasons best describe why you engaged with this DTA training option?

Click the Request a Booking for this Course button

You will receive an automated confirmation email and your pending course enrolment will show in your DTA Profile under My Courses > Pending Enrolments.

On the course start date, your registration will be approved and an email sent to you containing a link to get started. At this time, you can also access/begin your course by visiting your DTA Profile > My Courses > Current Courses > Click green Go to Course button

If you don’t receive an email after registering for a course, please know that you can always access your courses and pending enrolments in your DTA Profile.

How to access a course in your DTA Profile

Log in to your DTA Profile (button website top right)

Click My Courses

You will see a list of your current courses, completed courses and pending course enrolments.

To begin a course, visit the Current Courses tab > click the green ‘Go to Course’ button

Note: Pending enrolments are approved the morning of the course start date. Once this approval process occurs, you will receive an email containing information on how to get started. At this time, you can also access/begin your course by visiting your DTA Profile > My Courses > Current Courses > Click green Go to Course button

All course enrolments remain Pending until the morning of the course start date. At this time, pending course enrolments are approved, and an email is sent to learners containing information on how they can get started.

At this time, you can also access/commence your course by visiting your DTA Profile > My Courses > Current Courses > Click green Go to Course button

Your new DTA password will be emailed to the email address you entered during sign up.
Please check your junk/spam folder if you don’t receive the password straight after you have submitted your details.